Monday, October 11, 2010

Markup.io is a free service that enables you to quickly draw and write on any webpage. Markup.io operates as a bookmarklet in your browser's bookmarks bar or toolbar. Once you have Markup.io installed just click it anytime you're viewing a webpage to start drawing and commenting on that page. When you're done marking a page you can share it with others by clicking publish. Publishing creates a screen capture of the page with your drawings and comments. That screen capture is assigned its own unique url that you can direct others to.

Applications for Education

Markup.io could be useful for commenting on and critiquing online articles then quickly sharing your comments with others. Students could use Markup.io for news articles. Students could also use Markup.io to comment on images of famous landmarks. You could have students find an image of a famous landmark and write a few facts about it.

The Super Hero Squad invites kids to create their own super hero comic strips and comic books. The Super Hero Squad provides users with templates for comic strips and comic books. Users select the backgrounds, characters, and special effects from the provided menus. Arranging each scene and re-size the characters is an easy drag and drop process. After creating their scenes, users can add dialogue boxes to their comics. Completed comic strips and comic books can be downloaded and printed.

Applications for Education

The Super Hero Squad comic maker could be used for creative writing assignments. Students can work on developing stories and dialogue in a fun and familiar context. Even students who don't consider themselves "artistic" can develop good-looking comic stories.

GRAMMY in the Schools is the umbrella name for the GRAMMY Foundation's education programs. One of those programs is the Signature Schools Awards. Signature Schools Awards provide grants to school music departments based upon need and merit. Need-based grants range from $1,000 to $5,000. Merit-based grants range in value from $500 to $5,000. You can apply for the grants here.

Applications for Education

Unfortunately, when school budgets across the country get cut music programs are often the first to feel the cuts. GRAMMY in the Schools provide schools with an opportunity to get some money to help their programs.